Feed-water heater



May 10, 1927.

MP. COX

FEED WATER HEATER Filed June 15, 1922 s sheet -sheet 1 Fig 1 Inventor Atty y 7 M. F. cox

FEED WATER HEATER Filed June 15, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 kil Inventor M'Zlard F Cox J; @wa/mz/ Htt'g May 10,1927. 1,627,595

M. F. COX

FEED WATER HEATER Filed June 15, 1922 I5 Sheets-Sheet3 Patented May 10, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FEED-WATER HEATER.

Application filed June 18, 1922. Serial No. 567,990,

My invention relates to feed water heaters such as are used by railroad locomotives and consists in an improved construction of the heater itself and in its location and assembly with. the locomotive.

()ne object of my invention is to provide a heater preferably of the open type which may be applied to a locomotive without materially changing standard designing of locomotives.

Another object is to embody in such a heater water treating and steam and oil separating apparatus. 7

A further object is to make the operation of the heater automatic but also easily controlled by the engineer when necessary.

Other objects are to operate the heater with such a small amount of steam that the steam available for the draft will notbe substantially reduced, to facilitate the examination and overhauling of the heater and to provide a continuous and certain supply of hot ,water. I also desire to construct the heater in such a manner that it and its-operating apparatus may be applied as a unit to the locomotive and may be easily removed for replacement or repair.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a selected embodiment of my invention,-

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the forward portion of the body of a locomotive equipped with my heater.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In Figure 2 the smoke box ring is indicated at l and mounted thereon and extending into the smoke box isan annular casting 2 provided with a door 3 hinged to the cast ing at 4, the casting and door forming a closure for the front of the smoke box. Preferably the lower portion of the rear wall of the casting extends rearwardly a eater distance than the upper ortion w ereby the capacity of the heater is increased as is the area of the surface exposed to the flue gases. This construction also tends to balance the weight of equipment mounted on the front wall of the casting. On the lower front face of casting 2 are suitable. extension ads 5 upon which are mounted a heater supp y pump Gland a boiler feed pump 7. These pumps are steam-operated and are Water from the tank enters pump 6 through pipe 8 and is discharged by the pump through pipe 9 to the interior of the upper portion of the heater which is provided with a weir 10 so that the water striking the weir divides into a spray or shower adapted to readily absorb heat which is provided by steam which is admitted to the heater at 11 where it is separated from the oil and water and discharged into the heating chamber at 12. The steam o erated pumps 6 and 7 exhaust their steam t rough pipes 13 into the heater at 11, being there coupled with the air pump exhaust line 14. The heat provided by the steam is in addition to that furnished by the hot flue-gases which contact with the wall of the heater. The surface of the latter may be greatly increased if necessary by corrugating it. The boiler feed pump 7 takes the water from the bottom of the heater through passage 15 and discharges to the boiler through pipe 16.

My feed water heater operates with an interior pressure of less than five pounds thereby reducing the back pressure on all pumps, especially the air pumps which have heretofore performed against a pressure as high as sixty pounds.

At the "upper righthand portion of the heater the outer annular wall is bulged outwardly and an inwardly bulged partition is provided which cooperates with the outer wall to form an oil separating chamber. Steam is discharged into this chamber through pipe 11 and strikes a bafiie plate X which arrests the particles. of oil and condensate and permits them to dri downwardly into the U-shaped cham r provided while the steam may pass around the bafile and through a passage 12 into the heating chamber.

Along the right-hand side of the heater casting are arcuate walls 17 formin a deep water seal between the interior 0 the oil and condensate separator compartment and the exterior drain 18. This seal holds back the exhaust and permits only the condensation. and oil\ to be dischar d. The heating chamber is rovided wit a water gauge glass 19 to indicate the water line in the heater.

On the lefthand side of the heater and i 21 and which compounds are fed throu h a sight feed device 22 to the interior of t e heater. The motion of the engine will sufficiently agitate the water to thoroughly distribute the compound.

Pivoted in a recessed boss 23 on the heater body is a float 2 1 which operates a butterfly valve 25 to close and open the heater supply pipe 9 according to the level of the water in the heater. The pressure produced in pipe 9 when valve 25 is closed is transmitted to'a regulator 26 which is adapted to cut off the steam supply to the pump. Thus the pump 6 is automatic in its action starting when the float falls and stopping when the float rises.

The boiler feed pump is provided with a similar regulator 27 which automatically stops the pumps operation when the closing of a boiler feed valve (not shown) under control of the engineer causes the pressure in line 16 to rise above a predetermined point.

'The air pump exhaust pipe 14 normally leads into the smoke stack but in my construction is connected to pump exhaust lines 13 by a pipe 39 which is provided with a back pressure valve 28 designed to maintain a pressure of one to two pounds on the heater and relieve any excess through the stack. The vent pipe 40 with atmospheric relief is for the purpose of producing a free circulation in the heater. This construction always insures a small supplyof steam to the heater, so that the water will be maintained hot irrespective of the operation of pumps 6 and 7 The water treating compartment 20 is provided with a valved opening 29 into the interior of the heater so that the pressure in the compartment will be the same as in the heater. This opening may be closed by manipulating-a valve wheel 30 located on the exterior ofthe heater.

The front of the heater body' is provided with a plurality of suitable covered openings 31 through which access may be had to the interior of the heater to inspect and cleanthe various apparatus.

To take care of an overflow in the event of failure of butterfly valve 25 to be operated, I provide arcuate walls 32 on the lefthand side of the heater body,- which Walls form a discharge passage leading from the lower portion of the heater upwardly to the top of the outer wall32 and down the outside of the latter to an overflow vent 33. When this overflow functions, the discharged water is taken from the water which is at the bottom of the heater and therefore is the coldest.

A pressure gauge 34 and a thermometer 35 are also mounted upon the body of the heater and enable the pressure and temperature to be ascertained at all times. Other equipment may be similarly mounted, such, for instance, as the headlight 36.

A blow-cu: valve 37 closes a passage 41 which connects thebottom of the heater with the overflow vent 33 and provides for thorough cleaning of the heater by admission of steam or water blast. Both pump cylinders are preferably provided with lines 38 leading to the engine cab and provided at their ends with visible means 42 for indicating the pulsations in the pumps whereby the engineer can always determine whether or not the pumps are operating properly.

The location of such a heater is ideal. It does not render the locomoiive unsightly .or interfere with the boiler or other equipment; its weight may be properly distributed and supported; there are no delicate parts to become inoperative or difficult to maintain, and when it is necessary to apply new superheat units or steam pipes or fines, it can be entirely removed by disconnecting the pipe connections to the body of the locomotive. The heater will perform while the engine is running or standing still, and will heat the water to maximum temperature regardless of quantity. A coke bed filter may be provided in the bottom of the heater. It is obvious that the water ends of the pumps and other necessary parts may be lagged to prevent freezing and various other details of construction such as are in common use may be added to the disclosure or substituted for various parts, without departing from the spirit of my invention, as expressed in the appended claims.

While the heater illustrated is designed for locomotives, the novel features thereof are applicable to stationary boilers having a smoke box, and I do not desire to limit myself to use of my invention in railway locomotives.

I claim:

1. In a locomotive feed water heater, an annular body adapted to be inserted in the front of a locomotive boiler shell and having a vertical front wall and a rearwardly and downwardly inclined rear wall whereby the lower portion of the body extends rearwardly of the smoke box beyond the upper portion of the body, and feedwater pumps carried by said heater on the lower ortion of said front wall and connected to t e interior of said heater.

2. A locomotive feed water heater of open type comprising a one piece casting forming an annular water chamber and integrally formed closed compartments for water treating purposes spaced about said chamber and projecting inwardly of the same.

3. As an article of manufacture, a one-- piece casting comprising an annular heating (ill chamber for locomotive feed water, the exterior of the front wall of which is provided with integral spaced pads for mounting feed water pumps.

4. In a feed water heater for locomotive boilers, an annular body adapted to form the front end ofthe locomotive boiler shell, water and steam treating compartments located respectively at opposite sides of the upper portion of said body, heater and boiler supply pumps located respectively at opposite sides of the lower portion of said body, said body compartments and pumps being removable as a unit from the boiler.

55. As an article of manufacture, a one piece casting comprising an open type feed water heater annular in shape to formva smoke box closure and provided with integrally closed compartments for material to be discharged into the feed water receiving portion of the heater.

6. A feed water heater for a locomotive comprising an annular chamber adapted to be located in the front of the locomotive smoke box, the front wall of said chamber being provided with elements for mounting heater equipment, and the lower portion of its inner wall extending rearwardly a greater distance than its upper portion to balance the weight of such equipment applied to the front wall.

7. In a feed water heater for locomotive boilers, an annular body adapted to form the front end of the locomotive boiler shell, water and steam treating compartments located respectively at opposite sides of the upper portion of said body, heater and boiler supply pumps located respectively at opposite sides of the lower portion of said body, a door closing the central opening in said body, and suitable pipecon'nections between said compartments and pumps arranged about said door to leave the door opening free of obstruction.

8. As an article of manufacture, a feed water heater casting annular in shape and adapted to fit in and substantially fill the smoke box end of a locomotive boiler shell and comprising a heating chamber, a closed oil separator compartment, and a closed water treating compartment formed integrally with said chamber without substantially affecting its annular shape.

9. In a feed water heater, an annular main chamber formed of front and rear walls and spaced concentric inner and outer walls connecting said front and rear walls, an intermediate wall connecting said front and rear walls and forming with one of said concentric walls a separate compartment within said main chamber. and an annular partition in said compartmentspaced from said concentric walls but united with one of them at its upper end to provide an extended water seal therein throughout a substantial ortion of the circumference of said cham- 10. A locomotive feed water heater casting comprising an annular heating chamber forming a smoke box closure, an integral oil separator compartment and an integral water treating compartment located near the top of said chamber, and a filter material receptacle at the bottom of said chamher, and walls formed integral with the chamber walls and providing passages between said compartments and receptacle adapted to be water-sealed.

11. As an article of manufacture, a locomotive feed water heater casting comprising a smoke box front closing annular heating chamber, an integral oil separator compartment and an integral water treating compartment located near the top of said chamber, a filter material receptacle at the bottom of said chamber, and walls integral with the chamber walls providing elongated U- shaped passages located between said compartments and receptacle adapted to form water seals for the heater.

12. In a locomotive, a unitary construction comprising a feed water heater, a smoke box front and door, and heater and boiler feed pumps, all applicable to and removable from the locomotive boiler without disassembly from each other.

13. In a feed Water heater, an annular main chamber comprising front and rear Vertical walls, concentric inner and outer walls 'connecting said front and rear Walls, and a pair of spaced intermediate Walls concentric with said inner and outer walls and connected to said front and rear walls, one of said intermediate Walls extending beyond and across the corresponding end of the other of said intermediate Walls and uiiited with one ofsaid first-mentioned concentric Walls so as to form a long curved inverted U-shaped passage,the lower ends of said pas sage being open respectively to the main body of said chamber and to the exterior of the heater.

14. As an article of manufacture, a one piece annular casting comprising an open type feed water'heater chamber and including water and steam treating compartments located in the upper portion of said casting, and vertically elongated passages adjacent the sides of said casting below said compartments each extendingfor a substantial distance in one direction vertically and then doubling and extending in the opposite direction to form, respectively, overflow and separatedfluid seals.

15. As an article of manufacture, a locomotive open type feed water heater consisting of a one-piece casting in the form of a hollow ring and including a plurality f elongated arcuate passages at each side df the ring concentric with and within the walls of the latter, the passages on one side being connected with{ each other and closed from the heater at one end and respectively open to the heater and atmosphere at their other end to form discharge passages for waste or surplus fluid.

16. In a feed water heater, an annular heating chamber, an overflow discharge therefor comprising an inverted U-shaped passage curved with the wall of said chamberand open at the lower ends of its legs only to the lower interior of the heater and to the atmosphere respectively whereby only the cooler water'near the bottom of the heater is discharged.

17.,In a locomotive feed water heater of open type, an annular heating chamber, an

inverted U-shape discharge passage along one side of said chamber curved longitudinally and having one end of one leg opening into said chamber and the corresponding end of the other leg discharging. to the atmosphere below said chamber.

18. As an article of manufacture, an annular feed water heater forming a closure for the front end of a locomotive smoke box, and pumps mounted on said heater at opposite sides thereof whereby their weight is balanced transversely of the locomotive.

19. In a locomotive, an annular feed water heater forming a closure for the front end of a locomotive smoke box and having a plurality of relatively small openings with removable'covers arranged in a circle about its front wall, and an oil separator compartment, a fresh water discharge weir, a water treating compartment, and a filter bed in said heater located, respectively, behind said openings.

20. In a locomotive, an annular feed water heater forming a closure for the front end of a locomotive smoke box and having a plurality of relatively small openin with removable covers arranged in a circ e about its front wall, and an oil separator compartment, a fresh water discharge weir, a water treating compartment, and a filter bed in said heater located, respectively, behind said openings, said heater'being provided with a large central circular opening within the inner annular wall thereof to permit access to the smoke box, and a circular cover for said opening positioned between said removable covers. 4

21. In an annularly shaped feed water heater for a locomotive, an inner annular wall, an outer annular wall bulged outwardly for a short distance, and a short partition wall integrally united to said outer wall and bulged inwardly opposite said outwardly bulged portion to form a separate compartment spaced from said inner wall.

22. In an annularly-shaped feed water heater for locomotives, an inner annular wall, an outer annular wall, transverse front and rear walls, and a plurality of annular partitions between said front and rear walls concentric with said annular walls, one of which partitions is united at its lower ends with one of said annular walls whereby a liquid seal may be formed extending from the lowermost portion of said'heater at the middle thereof to points above the center of said heater.

23. In a locomotive, an annular feed water heater forming a closure for the locomotive smoke box and having a central circular doorway for access to said box, pumps mounted respectively on opposite sides of the lower portion of said heater, separate compartments formed in opposite sides of the upper portion of said heater, and piping connections between said pumps and compartments extending around said doorway.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflixmy signature this 5th day of June, 1922.

MILLARD F. cox. 

